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cnbc.com
UK economy grew 0.5% in February, beating economists' expectations by a long shot
Economists polled by Reuters expected U.K. gross domestic product (GDP) to have expanded by 0.1% month-on-month.
bbc.com
UK economy grew faster than expected ahead of Iran war
The economy saw its biggest monthly rise in more than two years just before the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
cnbc.com
Trump says Israel and Lebanon leaders to hold talks after first high-level meeting in decades
The U.S. president said he was "trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon."
bbc.com
Big energy shock will push up prices, Bank boss tells BBC
Bank of England governor says the Iran war energy shock makes the next interest rate decision "very, very difficult".
cnbc.com
TSMC first-quarter profit rises 58%, beats estimates as AI demand fuels record run
TSMC reported another quarter of record profit, with the company expecting AI demand to continue to grow.
theguardian.com
UK economy was growing faster than expected in February before Iran war began – business live
UK economy smashes forecasts with 0.5% growth in FebruaryThe UK’s growth acceleration in February is likely to be “short-lived”, due to the Iran war, warns Andrew Hunter, associate director and senior economist at Moody’s Analytics:“The 0.5% month-over-month jump in U.K. GDP in February, and slight upward revision to January’s data, echoes the earlier improvement in the surveys and suggests the economy had more momentum at the start of this year than previously thought.However, with those surveys weakening quite sharply in March as the Middle East conflict sent energy prices soaring, this upturn is likely to prove short lived. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
CEO of bitcoin firm championed by Nigel Farage leaves company
Resignation announced of Jai Patel, whose liquidated crypto firm was relaunched as Stack BTC this yearThe chief executive of a bitcoin company promoted by Nigel Farage has left his role as the venture attempts to convince investors that it is going to deliver “long-term value” for shareholders.Stack BTC was launched to much fanfare in March this year, with Farage and former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng becoming some of its first shareholders. The company says its founder is Paul Withers, a friend of the Reform UK leader who owns a gold bullion company that Farage has also promoted, Direct Bullion. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Trading the truce and the Lebanon dilemma
The S&P, Nasdaq and Nikkei all top new record highs on optimism of an extended truce between the U.S. and Israel, as well as talks with Lebanon.
cnbc.com
China economic growth accelerates to 5% in first quarter — but Iran war clouds outlook
Beijing had lowered its growth target this year to a range of 4.5% to 5%, the least ambitious goal on record going back to the early 1990s.
cnbc.com
Inside India newsletter: Small towns are powering e-commerce's fastest-growing market, dominated by Amazon, Walmart unit
Small towns are fueling India’s e‑commerce surge, with Amazon and Flipkart chasing new shoppers, faster delivery and rising aspirational demand.
cnbc.com
European stocks set for another mixed open as Iran peace efforts remain unclear
European stocks are expected to open in mixed territory as investors assess a confused picture of where the Iran war and peace talks are headed.
cnbc.com
UK finance minister Rachel Reeves blasts Trump administration over economic impact of Iran war
U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves called for an immediate de-escalation to the Middle East conflict on Wednesday.
theguardian.com
Private rents in Great Britain stop rising for first time since 2017
More landlords having to cut prices to secure tenants, Rightmove data showsAverage private rents have stopped rising in Great Britain after almost a decade of increases, as more landlords cut their prices to secure a tenant, data shows.The typical advertised private rent outside London for properties coming on to the market remained flat at £1,370 a calendar month in the first three months of 2026, according to the property website Rightmove. Continue reading...
bbc.com
The price of school prom is extortionate, says teen
A parent and ex-pupil says proms put pressure on children and adults alike.
bbc.com
Japan pledges $10bn to help Asian countries deal with oil crisis
The aid is roughly equivalent to a year's worth of crude oil imports by Asean countries.
cnbc.com
Japan's Nikkei 225 hits record high as hopes for U.S.-Iran deal fuel broader rally in Asia stocks
Asia markets opened higher, with Nikkei at an all-time high after Wall Street hit record levels on growing expectations of a U.S.-Iran deal to end the war.
cnbc.com
Iran war 'very close to over,' Trump says — and the stock market 'is going to boom'
The U.S. has beaten Iran "militarily" and that the war is "very close to over," Trump said, claiming a peace deal likely.
bbc.com
'Unprecedented' fire at Australian oil refinery to impact nation's petrol supplies
The fire has deepened fears over the nation's petrol supplies amid a global crunch.
theguardian.com
How South Korea plans to use the Iran crisis to spur a renewables revolution
Energy crisis unfolding in Middle East has added political urgency, and more funding, to transform South Korea’s solar industryIn Guyang-ri, a farming village of 70 households about 90 minutes south-east of Seoul, people gather for communal free lunches six days a week. The meals are funded by the village’s one-megawatt solar installation, which generates roughly 10m won ($6,800) in net profit each month.“Residents eat lunch together every day, so we see each other’s faces, talk together,” says Jeon Joo-young, the village chief. “Bonds and solidarity between residents become much stronger. Life becomes more enjoyable.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
China's economy grows faster than expected despite Iran war
The better-than-expected GDP data comes as Asian countries have been hit hard by the impact of the conflict.
cnbc.com
Daikin shares jump 14% after activist investor Elliott pushes for reforms
Daikin shares surged as much as 13.9% after activist investor Elliott urged the company to boost margins and shareholder returns.
bbc.com
Allbirds shares soar after pivot from shoes to AI
The company is selling off its shoe brand as it plans to shift to providing technology infrastructure.
bbc.com
Trump threatens to fire Fed chair Powell if he doesn't leave in May
Donald Trump's threat marks the latest escalation in his ongoing spat with Jerome Powell.
theguardian.com
Geelong fire: major blaze breaks out at Australia's Viva oil refinery – video
Video shows an explosive fire at a Geelong oil refinery, which supplies half of Victoria’s fuel and 10% of Australia's. The blaze at Viva Energy's Corio facility in Geelong, southwest of Melbourne, started just after 11pm WednesdayGeelong fire: fuel supply fears over out-of-control blaze at one of Australia’s two remaining oil refineries Continue reading...
cnbc.com
The public sours on AI and data centers as Anthropic, OpenAI look to IPO and tech keeps spending
Negativity around AI could be a drag on OpenAI and Anthropic as the startups look to go public, and will likely be a major issue in the midterm elections.
bbc.com
Back to books - Sweden's schools give up digital learning
Swedish classrooms swap laptops for books, pens and paper, raising concerns from the tech sector.
theguardian.com
Drax claimed record £999m in subsidies for burning trees in 2025, thinktank says
Company has received about £8.7bn in renewable energy subsidies since 2012, despite claims wood pellets are not sourced sustainablyThe owner of the Drax power plant in North Yorkshire received record subsidies of almost £1bn for burning trees to generate electricity in 2025, a climate thinktank has calculated.The company was paid £999m last year for generating about 4.5% of Great Britain’s electricity from its biomass plant, costing each household £13 a year, according to analysts at Ember. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Horse urine perfume: Why online bargains may be dangerous
Experts warn of hidden risk of counterfeits, while the government consults on stricter product safety rules.
bbc.com
Ticketmaster-owner Live Nation ran a monopoly and overcharged fans, jury finds
The lawsuit said the firm's practices had led to higher ticket prices and worse service for customers.
cnbc.com
Struggling shoe retailer Allbirds makes bizarre pivot to AI, adds $127 million in value
Allbirds announced a deal with American Exchange Group to sell its intellectual property and other assets for $39 million in March.
bbc.com
More big energy users to get help as support plan expanded
A scheme to cut bills for firms that are heavy energy users is being extended to cover an additional 3,000 businesses.
cnbc.com
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is preparing banks to collect citizenship data
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the Trump administration expects banks to comply in collecting citizenship information from customers.
bbc.com
Social media leaders called to Downing Street over children's safety
Top executives from firms such as Meta and YouTube will be asked what they are doing to protect children.
theguardian.com
Shares in Allbirds surge after maker of wool sneakers announces pivot to AI
Rebrand as NewBird AI sent shares up 582% in bizarre and rapid turnaround for firm that had fallen on hard timesAllbirds, the maker of minimalist wool sneakers beloved by Silicon Valley, announced on Wednesday that it is leaving shoes behind and pivoting to artificial intelligence. The new focus and rebrand as “NewBird AI” sent the company’s stock up 582% as of mid-day during a flurry of trading.The surging stock price and new direction is a bizarre, rapid turnaround for a company that had fallen into disrepair in recent years. Once valued at $4bn, Allbirds’ shares had lost 99% of their worth since 2021 and earlier this month the company announced plans for a $39m sale to brand management firm American Exchange Company. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Iran war damaged as much as $58 billion of energy infrastructure, Rystad estimates
It could take years to repair damaged energy infrastructure in the Middle East and restore production to prewar levels.
cnbc.com
Tesla stock adds nearly 8% as Elon Musk touts chip progress
UBS analysts changed their previously bearish rating on shares of Tesla this week.
theguardian.com
Live Nation and Ticketmaster had monopoly over big venues, US jury finds
Verdict in states’ case says concert giant stifled competition in ticketing industry, raising pressure for changesConcert giant Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary had a harmful monopoly over big concert venues, a Manhattan federal jury has found, dealing the company a loss in a lawsuit over claims brought by dozens of US states.The jury deliberated for four days before reaching its decision on Wednesday in the closely watched case, which helped peel back the curtain on a business that dominates live entertainment across much of the world. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How you could get free electricity for doing your washing
You could get free or cheaper electricity from your energy company for running appliances during periods of excess supply, such as sunny weekends.
cnbc.com
U.S. and Iran could meet in Pakistan for peace talks next week: MS NOW
Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a trickle as the U.S. enforces a retaliatory blockade of Iranian ports.
cnbc.com
Regulators are reportedly zeroing in on suspicious trades ahead of market-moving Trump post
The information sought includes so-called Tag 50 identifiers, which can be used to determine who was behind the trades.
bbc.com
US war on Iran was a 'mistake', says Reeves
The chancellor's criticism follows a report that the conflict will hit the UK harder than other big economies.
cnbc.com
Anthropic's Mythos isn't threatening bitcoin. The real AI risk is at crypto exchanges
The Bitcoin blockchain itself has never been hacked and has operated securely and without interruption since 2009. The Mythos threat probably won't change that.
theguardian.com
BBC to cut up to 2,000 jobs in biggest downsize in 15 years
Announcement comes before Matt Brittin replaces Tim Davie as director general next monthThe BBC is to cut as many as 2,000 jobs in the biggest downsizing of the public service broadcaster in 15 years.Staff were informed of the cuts, which will affect about 10% of the BBC’s 21,500 employees, at an all-staff meeting on Wednesday afternoon. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
World Bank president: Prepare for months of disruption, even after Hormuz Strait reopens
It will take "a few months for things to come back" once the Strait of Hormuz is no longer effectively closed, Banga said.
cnbc.com
A few tankers and ships are going through the Strait of Hormuz. Here's the latest traffic
Tanker transits Tuesday were 90% below traffic before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, according to shipping data.
cnbc.com
Anthropic products are operational after brief outage, status page says
Anthropic said it is working to "fully resolve this issue," according to its page showing the status of the Claude chatbot, Claude Code and the API.
cnbc.com
Iran team is 'coming for sure' to 2026 World Cup in U.S., says FIFA President Infantino
Amid war with the U.S., Iran's participation in the World Cup is uncertain. But FIFA President Gianni Infantino tells CNBC they will play in North America.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on the looming energy shock: ministers need to show they have a plan | Editorial
Keir Starmer can’t be blamed for the crisis in the Middle East, but he has to reassure people that he is prepared for its long-term consequencesPublic reassurance is one of the first duties of the government in difficult times. The early months of the Covid pandemic offer a case study in how to get this wrong. Boris Johnson was paralysed by indecision and denial of the severity of what was unfolding. Panic-buying cleared supermarket shelves of essential goods.Sir Keir Starmer is unlike Mr Johnson in temperament and work ethic, but he too is struggling to get ahead of events in a global crisis. It isn’t easy when the origin of turbulence is a superpower gone rogue. Donald Trump’s impulsive actions can’t be anticipated with epidemiological precision like a virus.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK’s largest housebuilder to buy less land in blow to Labour’s homes target
Barratt Redrow blames effects of Iran war and expected impact on mortgages and costs for further reductionGovernment’s 1.5m housebuilding target is suffering subsidenceBritain’s largest housebuilder is planning to dramatically cut back on buying new land, blaming the impact of the conflict in the Middle East and putting Labour’s ambitious housing target under more pressure.Barratt Redrow said it intended to approve between 7,000 and 9,000 plots of land for purchase in its current financial year, far lower than previous guidance of between 10,000 and 12,000. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Here are all the ways the Iran war has affected the U.S. economy so far
The Iran war is starting to show up in the U.S. economy in ways both obvious and not so much.
theguardian.com
Government’s 1.5m housebuilding target in England is suffering from subsidence | Nils Pratley
As the country’s biggest housebuilder cuts land buying and the Iran war pushes up costs, setting such an ambitious figure appears even more foolishThis is what the government didn’t want to hear when its target to build 1.5m homes in England during this parliament already looked out of reach. The country’s biggest housebuilder is trimming its purchases of new land because the Iran war has created “a less certain backdrop”.Barratt Redrow’s “disciplined approach” isn’t a downing of tools, it should be said. The company had previously expected to buy between 10,000 and 12,000 plots; now it will acquire between 7,000 and 9,000. In money terms, it equates to about £100m less from a £800m-£900m budget. It is a scaling-back, as opposed to the outright halt to buying new land that the London-focused Berkeley Group announced a couple of weeks ago. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
New EU entry-exit system causing up to three-hour delays, say airports
Airport body has asked for power to suspend EES checks requiring personal information and biometricsTravellers going through some European airports are reportedly waiting up to three hours at border checks because of the EU’s new entry-exit system (EES).Passengers in airports in countries such as France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Greece are waiting several hours at border checks, the Airports Council International (ACI) body has said. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Snapchat owner cuts 1,000 jobs as says AI will reduce repetitive work
The Snapchat owner is laying off around 16% of staff and withdrawn hundreds of open job roles.
theguardian.com
Big US banks rake in near $50bn profit as Iran war shakes markets
Six lenders, including Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan report jump in first-quarter earningsBig US banks raked in nearly $50bn (£37bn) worth of profits in the first three months of the year, as they benefited from stock market turbulence triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran.Wall Street’s largest lenders have reported a jump in first-quarter earnings, reflecting the surge in demand for trading services as investors dumped risky stocks and bonds and sought safer havens for their cash. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The IMF refuses to name the cause of this global chaos. It starts with ‘Donald’ and ends in ‘Trump’ | Greg Jericho
The International Monetary Fund remains stuck in a situation where the biggest concern about inflation is wagesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook has forced it to admit that things have changed since its previous update in January when it blissfully hoped things would be OK. Now there is mostly darkness and despair.The IMF’s January report was titled Steady amid Divergent Forces; whereas the latest outlook is headlined Global Economy in the Shadow of War and begins: “The global outlook has abruptly darkened following the outbreak of war in the Middle East on February 28, 2026.” Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump threatens to fire Powell if the Fed chair doesn't leave office on his own
Though most Fed chairs in the past have left after being replaced, Powell has demurred on what he plans to do.
cnbc.com
Chinese robotaxi companies forge ahead with UAE expansion despite Iran war
Ride-hailing company Didi plans to begin its first overseas robotaxi test in the United Arab Emirates later this year.
cnbc.com
Chip giants AMD, Qualcomm and Arm back driverless car startup Wayve with fresh funds
Wayve now has major semiconductor names, including Nvidia, as shareholders as it looks to sell its technology to automakers who may be using different chips.
theguardian.com
How the US-Israel war on Iran is affecting African economies
For some, the impact is already being felt but others remain in limbo over their energy security and are hostage to an unlikely de-escalation• Don’t get The Long Wave delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereIt remains a confusing situation, but the strait of Hormuz now appears to have been closed twice. Once by Iran, and then by the US, which this week announced a blockade of its own on the reduced number of ships using Iranian ports. Higher fuel and energy costs for ordinary people across the world are the headlines, but as the war on Iran enters its sixth week, shipping restrictions and strikes on energy facilities in Gulf countries are affecting some of the poorest and most vulnerable economies in the world in more profound ways.I spoke to Dr. Zainab Usman, senior research scholar at the Centre on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, about how the war and its blockades are affecting some African countries. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Norwegian group in talks to buy former Liberty Steel works in South Yorkshire
UK official receiver understood to prefer Blastr as buyer for SSUK’s electric arc furnace in Rotherham and site in StocksbridgeBusiness live – latest updatesUK officials have entered exclusive talks with a Norwegian startup to buy the former Liberty Steel works in South Yorkshire, in a significant step towards its rescue.Norwegian-owned Blastr is understood to be the bidder preferred by the government’s official receiver to take on ownership of the UK’s largest existing electric arc furnace in Rotherham and other works in Stocksbridge, both in South Yorkshire. Continue reading...
bbc.com
AA and BSM ordered to refund learner drivers for hidden fees
The owner of the driving schools has been fined for failing to disclose fees upfront online.
theguardian.com
$30m an hour: big oil reaping huge war windfall from consumers, analysis finds
Exclusive: Climate action blockers including Saudi Arabia, Russia and major fossil fuel firms set to make extra $234bn by end of 2026Middle East crisis – live updatesThe world’s top 100 oil and gas companies banked more than $30m every hour in unearned profit in the first month of the US-Israeli war in Iran, according to exclusive analysis for the Guardian. Saudi Aramco, Gazprom and ExxonMobil are among the biggest beneficiaries of the bonanza, meaning key opponents of climate action continue to prosper.The conflict pushed the price of oil to an average of $100 (£74) a barrel in March, leading to estimated windfall war profits for the month of $23bn for the companies. Oil and gas supplies will take months to return to pre-war levels and the companies will make $234bn by the end of the year if the oil price continues to average $100. The analysis uses data from a leading intelligence provider, Rystad Energy, analysed by Global Witness. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘They want to keep denying us our rights’: workers in Vermont’s $5.4bn dairy industry fight for basic labor protections
Migrant labor fuels much of Vermont’s dairy industry, but workers are exempt from minimum wage rules, overtime protections and the right to unionizeHilario’s work shift on a Vermont dairy farm began at 10.30pm when he lifted a red fleece blanket and rose from a makeshift bed next to the kitchen sink.The 65-year-old pushed aside a lace curtain that covered his apartment door, dividing his room from the dairy’s sour-smelling milking parlor. In the barn, a horseshoe-shaped milking platform hummed awake. Super-producer black-and-white Holstein cows, twice Hilario’s size, peered out from vinyl curtains. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump’s push to cut interest rates has echoes of ‘banana republic’, says Yellen
Former US Fed chair says lowering rates to reduce debt service cost can lead to inflation getting out of controlBusiness live – latest updatesThe former US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen has attacked Donald Trump’s push for lower interest rates, comparing it to the actions of a “banana republic”.The US president has repeatedly urged the central bank to slash interest rates, in the hope of cutting the government’s borrowing costs on its $39tn (£29tn) debt. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Commuters welcome second year of Translink fare freeze
Liz Kimmins acknowledged the decision was taken against a difficult funding backdrop for the public transport company.
theguardian.com
Tax Day is a reminder of America’s unequal tax system. But we can fix it | Zohran Mamdani, Gabriel Zucman and Joseph Stiglitz
There is no justification for a regressive system in which the super-rich contribute less than the rest of usToday, we have more income and wealth inequality than ever before. New York City’s average household income is $131,000. Without extreme inequality, residents could live reasonably well. Instead, a few people at the top of the income ladder capture enormous wealth, while millions of others struggle just to get by. Some simply can’t make it. For them, New York has become fundamentally unaffordable.This outsized level of inequality has enormous economic, political and social consequences. It undermines social and political cohesion, erodes trust in institutions and leads people to conclude, correctly, that the system is rigged. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Aegon offloads 200-year-old UK business to Standard Life for £2bn
Deal will create pensions and savings group with 16 million customers and £480bn of assets, while Aegon focuses on USBusiness live – latest updatesThe Dutch financial services group Aegon has struck a £2bn deal to sell off its almost 200-year-old UK arm to Standard Life, as part of a US push in which the group will be rebranded as Transamerica.Standard Life, previously known as Phoenix Group, said the deal to buy Aegon UK would create a pensions and savings group with 16 million customers and £480bn of assets under administration. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Brexit delusion is dead – so now Keir Starmer doesn’t need to pretend any more | Rafael Behr
To rebuild relations with Europe in a dangerous world, the prime minister needs to win big arguments, not hide behind outdated red linesIn opposition, Keir Starmer pushed Brexit to the margin of debate. In government, he has learned that Europe is central to Britain’s interests whether you talk about it or not. The avoidance of painful arguments from the past turns out to be a handicap when making plans for the future.This was predictable. Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto pretended that Brexit was a historical event. It was something Boris Johnson got “done” in 2020, in fulfilment of his winning campaign pledge from the previous year. The terms could be tweaked, but Starmer promised to preserve the substance. That was an indulgence of public fatigue with the whole issue, made electorally expedient by fear of offending former Labour supporters who had voted leave in the referendum.Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnistGuardian Newsroom: Can Labour come back from the brink?On Thursday 30 April, join Gaby Hinsliff, Zoe Williams, Polly Toynbee and Rafael Behr as they discuss how much of a threat Labour faces from the Green party and Reform UK – and whether Keir Starmer can survive as leader. Book tickets here Continue reading...
theguardian.com
AA driving schools ordered to refund 80,000 learner drivers over hidden fees
UK motoring group fined £4.2m by CMA for not showing full price of lessons at time of bookingThe AA has been fined £4.2m and ordered to make payments to more than 80,000 learner drivers for not showing the full price of lessons at the time of booking, an illegal practice known as “drip pricing”.The UK competition watchdog, which launched an investigation into the practices employed by the AA Driving School and BSM Driving School last year, said the AA-owned businesses must repay more than £760,000 as a result. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Field of Dreams stuff’: will Leeds finally get its trams after decades of promises?
Plans for return of such transport have been discussed for years, and not all local people believe that service will comeIt is 1993 and a young James Lewis is going to do work experience in Leeds city council’s highways department. His team, Leeds United FC, have only just relinquished the title of defending English champions. And the council is marching on with big ideas: putting the abandoned 1980s Metroline tram plan behind them, and forgetting the unloved 1991 concept of a Leeds Advanced Transit skytrain. The Supertram is the coming thing.“I remember these drawers and drawers, full of big paper plans,” says Lewis, 33 years on. Lewis is now leader of the city council, and it is all done online. Much of the city centre has been transformed, rebuilt and pedestrianised. Leeds United have never threatened to be champions again. But as Lewis stands outside Elland Road stadium, explaining how to cross the adjacent motorway, one thing has not changed. What Leeds really wants is to build a tram. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Expert tips on borrowing cash, from everyday spending to £20k loans
There are many options, from cards to buy now, pay later. We find out the best – and the effect on your credit scoreUntil recently, if you wanted to buy something you couldn’t afford upfront, you reached for a credit card or took out a loan. Now, when you get to the checkout, you are likely to be faced with other options, including buy now, pay later (BNPL).With so many ways to borrow, the true costs and complexities aren’t always clear. Which option will actually save you the most money in the long run? And how might each option affect your credit score? We spoke to financial experts to get some answers. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump takes aim at Pope Leo again, days after calling him 'weak on crime'
Trump's remarks came amid a running spat between the White House and the Vatican over the U.S.-Israel war against Iran.
cnbc.com
Trump’s Hormuz blockade puts China, India in crosshairs as U.S. pressure on Iran spills over
The U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz risks ratcheting up pressure on two of its most consequential relationships in Asia — India and China.
theguardian.com
IMF says strait of Hormuz closure raises prospect of ‘major energy crisis’ – video
The International Monetary Fund is forecasting a range of possible global economic scenarios due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. IMF’s chief economist, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, says: ‘Our adverse scenario assumes further disruption, leading to higher energy prices and inflation expectations, and tighter financial conditions throughout the year … Our severe scenario assumes that energy supply disruptions extend into next year with greater macro instability’IMF warns ‘unprecedented’ energy crisis could trigger global recession as Australia prepares for Washington talks Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Is the EU back in vogue? – podcast
Lisa O’Carroll reports on the ‘resetting’ of the relationship between the UK and the EUThis week, the Guardian reported that Labour is planning to bring in new legislation that will forge closer ties between the UK and the EU. Nearly 10 years on from the Brexit vote, the Guardian’s senior correspondent Lisa O’Carroll speaks to Helen Pidd about what a UK-EU reset would look like.Lisa and Helen also discuss the strength of the EU in the wake of Viktor Orbán’s defeat in the Hungary elections on Sunday. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Help to Buy mostly helped high earners, IFS says
People with lower incomes benefitted less from the house-buying scheme than those with high incomes, the influential think tank says.
theguardian.com
Higher-income households benefited most from Help to Buy, thinktank finds
Analysis by IFS shows George Osborne’s mortgage schemes launched in 2013 had little effect on social mobilityHigher-income households were the biggest beneficiaries of George Osborne’s Help to Buy mortgage schemes, introduced in the 2010s, according to an analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) thinktank.Launched by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government in 2013, Help to Buy involved two separate schemes aimed at making home ownership more achievable in a period of rapid house price growth. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Chiang Mai’s New Year revelry hit by smog and war-related price spikes
Air pollution caused by wildfires is another blow to northern Thailand’s tourism industry as businesses suffer amid war in IranThe Doi Suthep temple in northern Thailand is known for its spectacular views of Chiang Mai and the lush forested mountains that surround it. Over recent weeks, though, visitors can see little of the city beyond a thick cloud of grey haze.Persistent wildfires have caused intense air pollution across the north of Thailand, forcing three provinces to declare emergencies and triggering spikes in pollution-related illnesses. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'Bit of pain' worth long-term security from Iran, Bessent tells BBC
US Treasury Secretary said a "small bit of economic pain" was worth it to eliminate the threat of Iranian strikes on Western capitals.
theguardian.com
Reeves arrives at IMF with little leeway to prove its UK downgrade wrong
Chancellor faced with fund’s forecast that impact of Iran war will leave Britain as G7’s biggest loserIran war escalation could trigger global recession, IMF warnsThe Iran war is bad news for the global economy. But for some countries, the unfolding conflict is having a bigger impact than for others. The International Monetary Fund’s verdict is that Britain is the G7’s biggest loser.Amid the rising damage from the Middle East war, the Washington-based fund warned UK economic growth rate would be 0.5 percentage points lower this year than it had predicted back in January – the biggest downgrade among the club of wealthy nations. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Run the dishwasher, plug in the car: how Great Britain plans to use record wind and solar power
With a summer glut on cards, customers are being urged to use more energy when renewables are abundantGreat Britain households to be urged to use more power this summer as renewables soarGreat Britain is on the brink of a record-breaking summer for renewable energy, which could lead to the first periods of zero-carbon electricity in the history of the power system.These green milestones are an important step towards the government’s goal of creating a 95% gas-free grid by 2030 to power the electric vehicles, heat pumps and greener factories that will help the UK to reach its climate goals. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Bosses say AI boosts productivity – workers say they’re drowning in ‘workslop’
Workslop refers to AI-generated work that seems polished but is flawed and in need of heavy correctionsKen, a copywriter for a large, Miami-based cybersecurity firm, used to enjoy his job. But then the “workslop” started piling up.Workslop is an unintended consequence of the AI boom. It’s what happens when employees use AI to quickly generate work that seems polished – at least superficially – but is in fact so flawed or inaccurate that it needs to be heavily corrected, cleaned up or even completely redone after it’s passed on to colleagues. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Surrounded by windfarms but out of work: the reality of the green jobs boom on England’s east coast
The government hails the ‘green revolution’ as a solution to economic decline, but some young jobseekers say the rhetoric does not match their experienceOn paper, Jake Snell, 19, sounds like the perfect candidate for a role in the UK’s burgeoning green energy sector. He has high grades in maths and physics A-level, a distinction in BTec engineering and another distinction in an extended engineering diploma. He has also done work experience at an engineering company.He is from Lowestoft, a coastal town in Suffolk, outside Great Yarmouth. Both towns contain areas that fall within the most deprived 20% in England and are part of a wider pattern of coastal places with low employment opportunities. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
British Gas sent me a £571 bill for a flat I’ve never owned or lived in
Now I’m being threatened with debt collectors because I don’t have a tenancy agreement or a mortgageBritish Gas opened an account in my name for an address that I have never occupied, and sent me a £571 bill. It declined to open a complaint because I “refused” to provide a tenancy agreement or mortgage statement which, since I’ve long since paid off my mortgage, I don’t have. It is now threatening me with a debt collection agency. IW, Northampton Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Helium: the invisible gas that powers AI, and why it’s in short supply – podcast
Alongside the oil and gas stranded in the strait of Hormuz is another commodity vital to today’s economy: helium. It is a critical element in all kinds of areas from MRI machines to the Large Hadron Collider, and even deep-sea diving. It is also integral to the AI boom. And this isn’t the first time its fragile global supply chain has been threatened. So why is helium so useful, and what will happen if the shortage continues? Ian Sample hears from co-host Madeleine Finlay, and from Sophia Hayes, professor of chemistry at Washington University in St. LouisClips: CBCSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...
bbc.com
Quantum computing: A tech race Europe could win?
With some promising computing companies in the field, could Europe be a leader in quantum tech?
theguardian.com
The UK needs more North Sea gas; imports from the US are the real enemy | Nils Pratley
Transition to a cleaner future takes time and we need supplies that are the least polluting and have the lowest costUK households to be urged to use more power this summer as renewables soarTerrific news: despite turmoil in the strait of Hormuz, the UK will have sufficient supplies of gas to meet demand this summer, said National Gas, which operates the gas transmission system, on Monday.But contain your relief. The summer months of lower usage were never likely to be a moment of stress. Gas via pipelines from the UK and Norwegian fields in the North Sea can handle virtually all UK demand when most of the 24m households with a gas connection have their heating turned off. Little liquefied natural gas, or LNG, the stuff that arrives on ships, is needed during the summer. Continue reading...
bbc.com
US drivers head to Native American lands for cheaper gas
Some of the cheapest fuel in the country can be found on tribal land due to tax exemptions.
theguardian.com
The US small town coffee shop that created a viral drink: ‘I still don’t understand how it went so far’
The raspberry danish latte is making its way around the world after its inventors decided to share the recipeGive banana coffee a chance. How to make the viral (and delicious) Korean treatA viral coffee drink created by a little college town coffee shop on the outskirts of Minneapolis is now making its way around the world after its inventors decided to give the recipe away for free.After Little Joy Coffee’s raspberry danish latte, a spring seasonal drink, went viral in March, the shop’s owners decided to encourage coffee shops to rip off the recipe directly and add it to their menus. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Tory ex-chancellor Jeremy Hunt proposes ‘social tariff’ to help less well-off with energy bills
Resolution Foundation backs plan to offset rising costs from Iran war likely to leave households £480 poorerThe former Conservative chancellor Jeremy Hunt has proposed a “social tariff” to help Britons cope with rising energy costs amid the Iran war, as a thinktank calculated that households will be nearly £500 worse off this year.The Resolution Foundation said households faced rising costs from higher gas and electricity bills and at the petrol pump. The thinktank urged ministers to accelerate work on a social tariff before winter, when energy costs will hit hardest, to offer targeted support to lower-income households. It has estimated the cost at £3.7bn. Continue reading...
bbc.com
The Dutch village at risk of being demolished
Moerdijk has been earmarked for removal, to make way for a vast electricity substation.
theguardian.com
‘Too powerful for the public’: Inside Anthropic’s bid to win the AI publicity war
The firm says it withheld an AI model on cybersecurity grounds but sceptics say this was hype to lure investmentThis week, the AI company Anthropic said it had created an AI model so powerful that, out of a sense of overwhelming responsibility, it was not going to release it to the public.The US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, summoned the heads of major banks for a chat about the model, Mythos. The Reform UK MP Danny Kruger wrote a letter to the government urging it to “engage with AI firm Anthropic whose new frontier model Claude Mythos could present catastrophic cybersecurity risks to the UK”. X went wild. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'Every drop of water counts': Fear for the future of Argentina's glaciers
A controversial law to ease protections for the glaciers has passed, opening the doors for mining.
bbc.com
TV for dogs booms but are they watching?
TV channels for dogs are multiplying but research is mixed on whether dogs are watching.
bbc.com
The construction boss who built a new life after three years in prison
Traci Quinn, who was jailed for a drugs offence, has transformed herself and set up a successful firm.
bbc.com
What do businesses want ahead of the election?
Shops, cafes and restaurants in Cardigan say increasing costs and low footfall are making it harder.
bbc.com
The US refinery now processing Venezuelan oil
Chevron is now importing 250,000 barrels of crude per day from Venezuela.
bbc.com
National Minimum Wage rises this week
Around 2.7 million people are set to receive a pay rise this week as the national minimum wage goes up by 50p to £12.71 for over 21s.
bbc.com
New laws to make it easier to cancel subscriptions
A crackdown on "subscription traps" could save the average person nearly £170 a year, according to the Department for Business and Trade.
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
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